TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD WE EMBRACE GLOBALIZATION?
Chapter 15 Global Connections
Figure 15-1 One of the signs of a globalizing world is the need to communicate clearly in various
languages. The photograph at the top shows a sign in China. The middle photograph shows road signs
in Israel, and the bottom photograph shows signs in Iceland. In addition, various organizations have
developed symbols to convey basic information, no matter what language people speak.
C HAP T E R IS S UE
To what extent do global connections affect people?
The people of the world are connected in myriad ways — socially, politically,
and economically. These connections affect everyone. In some cases, the
connections are obvious: through the foods that are available in supermarkets,
the makes of vehicles on the streets, the languages on signs. But in other cases,
the connections are more subtle. The subtle effects of a globalizing world may
have more to do with what people think and do in specific situations. Because
these influences occur over long periods, they seem natural and normal, and
people may not even realize that they are changing. This chapter will focus on
the ways that global connections affect people.
Examine the photographs and symbols on the previous page and respond
to these questions:
• Why do you suppose the signs in China, Israel, and Iceland include English
translations even though English is not an official language of any of
KEY TERMS
these countries?
virtual communities
• What conclusions can you draw on the basis of the signs in these
photographs?
blood oil
• What might bilingual signs say about the people who live in a place?
boreal forest
• If you were visiting one of these places, how might these bilingual
pandemic
signs affect you?
• What does each of the international symbols mean?
civil society
• The international symbols were developed only in the last half of the
20th century. Why do you suppose they were not developed before that?
KEY TERMS
• Examine the international symbols carefully. What evidence identifies
virtual communities
their origin?
pandemic
• What statement(s) do the bilingual signs and international symbols
make about a globalizing world?
LOOKING AHEAD
‹‹‹
In this chapter, you will explore answers to the following questions:
• How does globalization change communities?
• How does the global need for resources affect people?
• How does globalization affect people’s health?
• How have people responded to global issues?
Point
My
of View on Globaliza
tion
Review your notes and think about the changes
that have occurred in your understandings of
globalization. Predict ideas that you might encounter
in these final chapters and think about how they
may change your point of view again. Use words or
images — or both — to record your predictions. Date
your ideas and keep them in the notebook, learning
log, portfolio, or computer file you have been using.
345
CHECKBACK
You learned about
individual and collective
identity in Chapter 1.
VOICES
Although [online] networks are
still in their infancy, experts think
they’re already creating new forms
of social behavior that blur the
distinctions between online and realworld interactions . . . Increasingly,
America’s middle- and upper-class
youth use social networks as virtual
community centers, a place to go and
sit for a while (sometimes hours).
— BusinessWeek magazine,
December 2005
HOW DOES GLOBALIZATION CHANGE
COMMUNITIES?
A community is made up of people who identify with others through shared
connections. The connection may be shared religious beliefs and traditions
or a common language — or it may be less formal. Wearing the colours of
a particular sports team, for example, and cheering on that team at games
identifies fans as members of a particular community. The connection
people share may be geographic — living in a village, town, or big-city
neighbourhood. Belonging to communities is important to people’s identity
and helps define who they are. To what communities do you belong?
Globalization has affected the communities people identify with.
Contemporary communication technologies and the speed of transportation
mean that people can identify with others from all over the world. The Asian
tsunami that killed hundreds of thousands of people in December 2004
reminded many people of their shared connections. As the rest of the world
heard about the disaster, people rushed to donate emergency supplies and
money because they believed that part of their global community needed help
and support. Globalization has made the term “global community” more
meaningful than ever.
New Communities
Globalization is expanding people’s ideas about “community.” Internet
users, for example, might say that their communities include people they
have never met in person. They spend time together in
Figure 15-2 When a tsunami hit parts of Asia in December 2004,
chat rooms, blogs, instant messaging buddy lists, and
Canadians responded by donating money and supplies — and
social networking sites. These interactions create a sense
offering basic medical help. In this photograph, a Sri Lankan
of community, and these virtual communities may
father and his sons ride past a Canadian convoy in Colombo. The
tsunami occurred on December 26, 2004. This photograph was
be as important as traditional communities in shaping
snapped on January 9, 2005. How does it illustrate the effects of
people’s identity.
globalization?
Membership in these virtual communities is often
fluid. People come and go as their interests move them.
Combined with the huge range of topics available
to online users, this makes virtual communities less
demanding than traditional communities. Users have
the ability to move about freely, interacting with others
around the world.
At the same time, virtual communities have
become hunting grounds for online criminals,
including identity thieves and sexual predators — and
users must be constantly on guard. Observers have
also expressed concerns that virtual communities are
undermining some people’s ability to maintain realworld relationships.
What virtual communities do you belong to or
know about? What interests link the people in each
community? What do you think is the main advantage
and disadvantage of belonging to a virtual community?
346
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
Transnational Corporations and Communities
People have widely differing views on the effects of globalization on
communities, especially towns and cities. On the one hand, supporters
of globalization point out that the economic activity stimulated by
expanded global trade has strengthened towns and cities. In many places,
transnational corporations are the driving force behind economic expansion.
They build factories where none existed, and shops and services spring up
to meet the needs of people attracted to the area by the new employment
opportunities. In addition to greater access to jobs, community residents
also gain access to services and opportunities that did not previously exist.
On the other hand, critics argue that globalization has created more
challenges and problems than opportunities. The low wages often paid by
transnational corporations mean that poverty is widespread, and this is often
made worse by the migrants who flood into an area in search of a job. In
addition, the natural environment may deteriorate if environmental standards
are lowered to attract transnationals and keep them in a community.
Wal-Mart and communities
Figure 15-3 These shoppers are
outside a Wal-Mart store in Shanghai,
China. Why might Chinese shoppers
welcome new Wal-Mart stores? Why
might these stores create concerns?
What does the store’s sign say about
globalization?
Wal-Mart, the world’s biggest retailer and one of the world’s most successful
transnationals, has long been a target of critics of globalization. When this
American-based company establishes a big-box store in a community, critics
argue that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. They say that
• high-paying jobs are replaced by low-paying jobs.
• Wal-Mart offers few benefits, such as health care, to workers.
• small, locally owned retailers are undercut by Wal-Mart’s low prices.
When local businesses are forced to close, shopping and job options are
reduced.
• Wal-Mart stores are typically located on the outskirts of communities.
This contributes to the decline of downtown shopping areas.
• locating stores on the outskirts of communities encourages car-based
shopping patterns, which contribute to high greenhouse-gas emissions
and fewer pedestrian-oriented shopping districts.
Figure 15-4 What argument is this
cartoonist making about Wal-Mart?
Despite these criticisms, Wal-Mart continues to build
stores, and people continue to shop at them. Supporters of
the chain point out that new stores often stimulate economic
activity in the surrounding area, filling nearby shopping malls
with new stores. And many people in smaller communities
welcome Wal-Mart because the store helps people save money
and provides products that may not previously have been
available.
For its part, Wal-Mart maintains that its stores support
communities in many ways. The chain allows non-profit
groups to hold fundraisers on its property and encourages
employees to participate in community events. In the United
States, Wal-Mart has created a community grant program that
donated more than $61 million to community organizations in
2006. What is your view on the presence of Wal-Mart stores
in communities?
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
347
The Effects of Immigration on Communities
FYI
In 2005, the top four countries of origin for
immigrants to Canada were China, India,
the Philippines, and Pakistan. Together,
these countries contributed more than
40 per cent of the 262 236 immigrants
who arrived in Canada that year.
Ideas
Immigration has long been an important force in Canada. In recent years,
immigration has kept Canada’s population growth rate higher than that of
any other developed country. In 2006, immigration made up more than
two-thirds of the increase in Canada’s population. Canada’s birth rate is
falling and the population is aging. As a result, economists and statisticians
predict that, within a few decades, immigration will account for all
population growth. Why might economists believe that population growth
is essential for a healthy economy?
Canada introduced official multiculturalism in the 1970s, and this
sparked a remarkable shift in the source of immigrants. Before the 1970s,
most immigrants arrived from Europe. Today, Asia is the biggest source.
What are the boundaries of your community?
The students responding to this question are Gord, a member of the
Beaver First Nation near High Level; Ling, who was born in Hong Kong
but is now a Canadian who lives in Edmonton; and Deven, who was
born in India but is now a Canadian who lives in Calgary
Gord
Your Turn
348
Ling
Deven
How would you respond to the question Gord, Ling, and Deven are
answering? What do you see as the boundaries of your community? In
what ways has your definition of community changed over the years? In
what ways is it likely to continue changing?
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
Most immigrants to Canada head for the largest cities in the country.
Figure 15-5 Top 10 Census
Metropolitan Area Destinations
Toronto alone welcomes more than 40 per cent of immigrants. Other
for Immigrants, 2005
large cities, such as Vancouver, Montréal, Calgary, and Edmonton, are
destinations for most other newcomers. Only a small number of immigrants
Calgary 4.3%
Ottawa 2.4%
settle in smaller communities. How might this trend affect Canada?
Edmonton 2.3%
The pie chart on this page shows the destination of the immigrants
Winnipeg 2.3%
who arrived in Canada in 2005. Nearly three-quarters of these new arrivals
Hamilton 1.7%
settled in just three census metropolitan areas. A census metropolitan area is
London 1.2%
a large city and surrounding communities.
Québec 0.8%
Newly arrived immigrants consider a number of factors when deciding
where to settle. They often want to be
Rest of
• close to family and friends who are already in Canada
Canada
• close to where other members of their cultural group have already
12.8%
Montréal
established businesses, places of worship, cultural centres, and so on
14.2%
• where jobs and economic activities are most plentiful
Vancouver
• where services like education and health care are most accessible
Large cities are more likely than smaller communities to meet the needs
of immigrants. Why do you think each of the considerations listed would
be important to immigrants?
Analyze the data in Figure 15-6. To do this, look for
• patterns, such as numbers that are consistent
• inconsistencies, such as a percentage for one census metropolitan area
that is markedly different from others
Suggest reasons for the patterns, inconsistencies, and regional trends you
identified.
Region of Birth
United States
Central and South America
Caribbean and Bermuda
Britain
Other Northern and Western
Europe
Eastern Europe
Southern Europe
Africa
Middle East
Eastern Asia
Southeast Asia
Southern Asia
Oceania and other
Total Immigrants
15.0%
Toronto 43.0%
Source: Citizenship and Immigration
Canada
Immigrant Population
by Place of Birth for Selected
Census Metropolitan Areas,
2001*
Figure 15-6
Census Metropolitan Area (Percentage of Immigrants)
Toronto
1.9
6.7
8.2
7.0
3.7
Vancouver
3.1
2.8
0.8
9.4
6.1
Montréal
2.4
7.6
10.6
2.3
9.2
Calgary
5.2
4.5
2.2
12.9
8.7
Edmonton
4.4
4.7
2.4
11.7
11.3
9.0
15.5
4.9
5.5
14.7
8.7
13.7
0.4
2 032 960
4.9
4.9
3.3
3.7
35.6
12.0
10.3
3.0
738 550
8.0
19.1
11.8
10.1
5.2
7.6
5.6
0.2
621 885
8.7
6.4
6.3
4.6
15.6
14.4
8.9
1.6
197 410
11.0
7.3
5.1
4.1
12.7
15.3
7.9
1.9
165 235
Source: Statistics Canada
* This chart shows all immigrants living
in the identified census metropolitan
areas, regardless of when they arrived in
Canada.
REFLECT AND RESPOND
With a partner, interview someone (e.g., a parent or
other relative, a neighbour, or a teacher) who has
lived in your community for at least 10 years. As an
alternative, you may wish to invite this person to visit
your classroom to talk about how the community has
changed.
Before the interview, prepare a list of questions that
focus on change in areas such as housing, business,
industry, transportation, entertainment, and services.
Record the interview subject’s responses, then
discuss whether — and how — each change is linked
to globalization. Rate each change on a scale of 1 to 5
(1 = very weak link; 5 = very strong link).
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
349
Battleground Iraq,
1908–2003
Figure 15-7
1908
Oil is discovered in the Middle East.
1914
During World War I, Britain attacks
the Ottoman Empire and occupies
what is now part of Iraq.
1919
British control over Iraq is
established at the Paris Peace
Conference that ends World War I.
1922
British and American interests
gain control of the oil industry
in the area.
1932
Britain grants “independence” to
Iraq but continues to rule indirectly.
1941
Britain reoccupies Iraq to secure
the oil industry; leaves Iraq at the
end of World War II.
1958
A coup overthrows the Britishsupported monarchy and
establishes a republic.
1972
The oil industry in Iraq
is nationalized.
1979
Saddam Hussein becomes
president.
1980
Iran-Iraq war begins when
Iraq invades Iran.
1988
Iran-Iraq war ends in a stalemate.
1990
Iraq invades Kuwait.
1991
A coalition of 32 countries led
by the U.S. defeats Iraq and frees
Kuwait; sanctions are imposed
on Iraq.
2003
The U.S. and a coalition that
includes Britain invade Iraq; an
appointed government is installed.
350
HOW DOES THE GLOBAL NEED FOR RESOURCES
AFFECT PEOPLE?
In a globalized world, the need for resources is great. Some resources, such
as oil and water, are so valuable that some governments are willing to use
force to secure their supply. Though the study of historical globalization
reveals that using force to secure resources is not a new strategy, it has taken
new forms in the 21st century. What is one past example of resources being
seized by force?
Oil in Africa
Blood oil is a new term that refers to oil obtained through violence and
bloodshed. In the first decade of the 21st century, blood oil flowed out of
several countries, including Nigeria and Sudan in Africa.
In Nigeria, several transnational corporations, including Shell, Chevron,
and Total, have been developing oil fields in the delta of the Niger River.
The people who live in the area say that the activities of these companies
have damaged the environment — and that they were persecuted when
they tried to protest. The Nigerian government, which was controlled by
the military at the time, co-operated with the oil companies by brutally
suppressing opposition.
In 1995, the government executed nine Ogoni activists who had been
fighting to preserve their people’s homeland, which was in the area slated
for oil development. Among those killed was author and environmentalist
Ken Saro-Wiwa, whose death provoked worldwide outrage. Since then,
a civilian government has come to power, and the oil companies have
changed some of their practices — but many people continue to oppose
the development.
Since the 1990s, a deadly civil war has raged in Sudan so that the
government could push unco-operative local groups out of an oil-rich area.
Millions of Sudanese were displaced and reports of genocide were rampant.
Critics said that revenue from the sale of the oil was used to buy military
equipment to expand the civil war and give the government even more
power.
Iraq, Oil, and War
Iraq has huge oil reserves. By 2007, only 15 of its 74 oil fields had been
developed. Known reserves total 112 billion barrels, but estimates say that
potential reserves could top 300 billion barrels, amounting to about onequarter of the world’s oil. Conservative estimates place the value of Iraq’s oil
at more than $3 trillion. In addition, the country has enough natural gas to
supply the United States for 10 years.
Until the early 20th century, Iraq was largely ignored by the imperial
powers. But this changed when oil was discovered there. The invention of
the automobile and the use of fossil fuels to power vehicles and heat homes
and businesses meant that Iraq’s oil reserves were suddenly highly desirable —
and the country became the focus of many conflicts.
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
The United States leads an invasion of Iraq
Many people have argued that the 2003 American-led invasion of Iraq was
a thinly veiled attempt to solidify Western control of the country’s massive
oil resources. Western access to the oil had been uncertain since Saddam
Hussein took control of Iraq in 1979.
Saddam’s refusal to submit to American demands in the years after
the 1991 Gulf War made him even more of a threat. As long as Saddam
controlled Iraq, the global supply of oil was at risk. Although American
president George W. Bush justified the 2003 invasion by accusing Saddam
of developing weapons of mass destruction, evidence of these weapons was
never found. By then, however, Iraq was in the hands of the U.S. and its
allies, and Western oil companies controlled the country’s oil fields.
Review the information in Figure 15-7 on page 350. What additional
research would you want to conduct before making a judgment about the
connection between Iraq’s oil reserves and the conflicts that have taken
place there?
Alberta and Oil
Though blood oil is a disturbing aspect of resource exploitation, much of
the world’s energy resources have developed in socially acceptable ways.
The oil and gas industry in Alberta is one example.
In the early 20th century, neither the Canadian government nor
Canadian investors were willing to play a leading role in developing
Alberta’s oil. As a result, international companies came to dominate the
province’s petroleum industry. Until 1969, Canadian representatives of
transnational corporations — mostly American-based — dominated the
industry. The “big four” were Shell, Imperial, Gulf, and Texaco.
By 1969, foreign ownership was sparking fears that Canada was losing
control of its energy future, and the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau
began trying to Canadianize the industry. The Trudeau government
introduced the controversial National
Energy Program, which was designed to
increase Canadian control, and created
Petro-Canada to ensure a Canadian
presence in the global development of
energy resources.
The Free Trade Agreement between
Canada and the United States and,
later, the North American Free Trade
Agreement reduced restrictions on
foreign ownership in the energy sector
and spurred development of Alberta
energy projects, including the tar sands.
Is it important for Canadians to
own a large share of Alberta’s oil and gas
industry? How would you find out how
much of oil industry profits remain in
Canada?
Figure 15-8 An American soldier
helps guard an oil field in Kirkuk,
Iraq. Thousands of American military
personnel and hundreds of thousands
of Iraqis were killed during and after
the U.S.-led invasion. What aspect(s)
of globalization does this photograph
illustrate?
Figure 15-9 The pumpjack has
become an enduring symbol of
Alberta’s energy industry. How has
the province’s oil and gas industry
affected you?
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
351
IMPACT
IMPACT
FORT MCMURRAY —
COPING WITH GLOBALIZATION
Fort McMurray, the focus of the oil sands development in northern Alberta, is booming. The city has
been growing by leaps and bounds — and municipal officials have been struggling to keep up with
the demands created by the world’s need for oil.
In 1995, Fort McMurray amalgamated with the surrounding district to form the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The entire regional municipality is under a single government, and
Fort McMurray is the seat of this government. Between 1999 and 2006, the community’s population
grew an average of 8.5 per cent a year.
Early Development
Paying the Price of Growth
The explorer Alexander Mackenzie recorded
the first description of the tar sands in 1788. He
wrote: “At about 24 miles [38.6 km] from the fork
[of the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers] are some
bituminous fountains into which a pole of 20 feet
[6.1 m] long may be inserted without the least
resistance.”
By 1870, the community of “Fort Mac” was a
Hudson’s Bay Company post. The first efforts to
extract oil from the tar sands were made in 1925,
but progress was slow, and by the early 1960s,
Fort McMurray’s population was only about 2000.
But when an oil-sands plant opened in 1967, the
population took off, reaching more than 30 000
by 1981. During the 1980s, low oil prices slowed
development, but improvements in mining and
extraction technologies during the 1990s stimulated a
new wave of construction. The population of the area
is expected to reach 100 000 by 2012.
The flood of workers into the Fort McMurray area has
placed a tremendous strain on municipal services. In
2006, Wood Buffalo municipal officials estimated that
3000 more homes were needed. The municipality also
needed a new water treatment plant, a police station,
a fire hall, a recreation centre, and two more schools.
To pay for this infrastructure and services, municipal
taxes increased frequently.
Although the oil business has fuelled the population
explosion, the key companies involved in developing
the oil sands have been reluctant to help the
municipality fund services and build infrastructure.
Darcie Park, spokesperson for Suncor, one of the
largest companies working in the area, told Canadian
Press: “Industry should do what industry does best,
which is to work to responsibly develop the resource.
Governments should do what they do best, which is
to identify needs for public funding and provide the
funding.”
Alberta Oil Sands
Figure 15-11
Legend
70
British
Columbia
Saskatchewan
Jasper
Lake Louise
Banff
Lethbridge
Edmonton
Red Deer
Calgary
Medicine Hat
60
50
40
Source: Official Population List, Alberta Municipal Affairs
352
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
20
06
Grande
Prairie
20
05
Fort MacKay
Fort McMurray
20
04
kilometres
20
03
200
Alberta
High
Level
20
02
0
80
Thousands
Oil Sands Areas
Main Highways
Capital
Population Growth in Fort McMurray, 2001–2006
20
01
Figure 15-10
IMPACT
IMPACT
IMPACT
IMPACT
IMPACTIMPACTIMPACT
IMPACT
Figure 15-12 This sign reflects the desperate labour shortage
among businesses in Fort McMurray. Why do you suppose they
have such difficulty finding workers?
five days. The process creates such large emissions
that Alberta produces more greenhouse gases than
any other province. Oil companies are conducting
research into more efficient processes, and when
they finish mining an area, they are required to
restore the land to a self-sustaining, productive state.
But environmentalists and First Nations people worry
that the development is too huge and happening too
quickly for the forest to be restored.
In addition, say First Nations people, the
development has destroyed their way of life. “The
environmental cost has been great,” Jim Boucher,
chief of the Fort McKay First Nation told the
Washington Post. “Hunting, trapping, fishing is gone.”
The population explosion has also created a
demand for service industries, such as restaurants,
shops, and hotels. But even though they offer
improved benefits and higher wages than businesses
elsewhere in the province, they are having trouble
finding enough employees to meet the demand.
Environmental Concerns
Fort McMurray is located in the boreal forest,
an environmentally sensitive sub-Arctic region
that consists mostly of coniferous trees such as
spruce, fir, and pine. The rapid expansion of oil
sands development is raising concerns about the
sustainability of the area’s environment.
Each barrel of oil extracted from the tar sands
requires the mining of two to five tonnes of earth and
uses enough natural gas to heat a home for one to
Figure 15-13 Huge trucks and machines extract earth from an open
pit mine near Fort McMurray. Hot water is then used to separate the
oil from the sand.
Explorations
1. Create a timeline showing the development of Fort
McMurray. For each event on the timeline, write a
phrase that identities its effect on the community.
2. Think about your understandings of the globalization
process. Explain how the growth of Fort McMurray
is tied to globalization. Which aspect of globalization
do you think is most important in driving the growth of
Fort McMurray? Explain your ideas.
3. Suppose you are an observer at a meeting between
the Wood Buffalo municipal council and officials of
the oil companies in the area. The two groups have
met to discuss the rapid population growth of the
area and some of the challenges that have resulted.
Identify two main points that each group might make,
as well as the evidence each would use to support its
position. Who else do you think should have a voice at
this meeting? Explain why.
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
353
Sustainability
CHECKBACK
Sustainability and globalization were considered in
Chapter 11.
Figure 15-14
Three Components
of Sustainability
Environmental sustainability is a concern in the Fort McMurray area —
and around the world. The destruction of rainforests, the collapse of
important fish stocks, and the loss of genetic diversity are just some of the
environmental challenges that profoundly affect people. What are some
ways environmental challenges might affect your life?
Many economists and environmentalists have begun to recognize
that economic growth is essential, but they also agree that it must not be
achieved at the expense of future generations. It must be sustainable. To
ensure sustainability, they believe that decisions about development must
stem from assessing and balancing three factors: economic growth, social
progress, and environmental stewardship. Figure 15-14 shows how these
factors are interrelated.
The goals of economic
growth are to
• ensure a sustainable
economy
• encourage innovation and
productivity
Economic
• maintain high levels of
Growth
employment
SocioEconomic
Concerns
The goals of environmental
stewardship are to
• protect and enhance natural
systems
• make efficient use of
natural resources
• make efficient use of energy
supplies
EcoEfficiency
Sustainability
Social Progress
SocioEnvironmental
Concerns
Environmental
Stewardship
The goals of social progress
are to
• ensure justice for all citizens
• encourage social inclusion
• achieve personal well-being
• create sustainable
communities
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Globally, people feel the effects of any disruption to
the oil supply. With a partner, create a flow chart that
shows how an interruption in oil supplies might affect
you and your community. Consider factors such as
price, affordability, availability of electricity for homes
and industry, changes in transportation, and just-intime production.
354
Recall ways you and your community are connected
to the global economy and identify how the effects
you have identified will affect your way of life (e.g., the
supply of fresh fruit and vegetables in winter, clothing
prices, and jobs).
Compare your flow chart with those of others in your
class. How would you summarize your predictions?
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
HOW DOES GLOBALIZATION
AFFECT PEOPLE’S HEALTH?
A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads around the world. Medical experts
today are concerned that pandemics pose a more serious threat than ever
because of people’s ability to travel farther and faster than ever before. But
pandemics are nothing new, as the Black Death and the Spanish flu show.
The Black Death
FYI
The World Health Organization defines
health as “a state of physical, mental, and
social well-being and not mere absence of
disease or infirmity.”
In the 14th century, an epidemic of bubonic plague that became known as
the Black Death started in Asia and spread across Europe. By the time it
had run its course, 75 million people had died, including up to two-thirds
of the population of Europe. How might such a large number of deaths
have changed social and economic conditions on the continent?
Many experts believe that the Black Death was carried by rats but
Figure 15-15 The Spread of the
spread through human contact. The plague was carried to Europe by
Black Death across Europe
traders using the Silk Road. It struck at a time when
Legend
Europe was already vulnerable. Wars had disrupted
1347
1350
farming and trading, creating widespread famine in
Mid-1348
1351
Early 1349
After 1351
Northern Europe. In addition, weather conditions
Late 1349
Minor Outbreak
had been colder than usual — this period was
0
500 1000 1500
called the Little Ice Age — and food supplies were
kilometres
limited. On top of everything else, a pestilence,
possibly anthrax, was killing sheep and cattle.
Copenhagen
Economies were in tatters and social conditions
Lubeck
London
were deteriorating, so people could do little to limit
Warsaw
Brunswick
the spread of the disease. Less severe outbreaks of
Bruges
Rouen
Frankfurt Prague
Paris
the same disease occurred almost every generation
Vienna
until the 1700s.
Bucharest
Milan
Examine Figure 15-15. It took more than four
Marseilles
Toledo
years for the Black Death to spread across Europe.
Barcelona
Rome
Thessaloniki
What evidence suggests that the disease originated
in Asia? What factors would have contributed to
Athens
its slow spread? Suggest reasons the area around
Warsaw experienced only a minor outbreak.
ECT
ONN ION
#
B The Spanish Flu
7E The most deadly pandemic of the modern era occurred just after World
War I, between 1918 and 1920. Called the Spanish flu, it killed an
To find out more
estimated 100 million people, a death toll that was many times higher than
about the Black Death and
the Spanish flu, go to this web
that of the war. An unusual aspect of the disease was that it killed healthy
site and follow the links.
young adults, rather than the very young, the very old, and those who were already ill — the usual victims of influenza outbreaks.
World War I did not cause the Spanish flu, but concentrations of
soldiers helped spread the disease. The soldiers’ movements from one
area to another ensured that the disease moved quickly over a large
WWW%XPLORING'LOBALIZATIONCA
geographical area.
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
355
Pandemics Today
FYI
AIDS was first identified in 1981 when
doctors in the United States, France, Haiti,
and Zaire began to notice patients dying of
minor infections. Canada recorded its first
case of AIDS in 1982.
SARS Cases in
10 Hardest-Hit Countries,
November 1, 2002–July 31,
2003
Figure 15-16
Country or
Region
Cases
China
5327
Hong Kong
1755
Taiwan
346*
Canada
251
Singapore
238
Vietnam
63
United States
27
Philippines
14
Germany
9
Mongolia
9
Source: World Health Organization
*Since 2003, 325 cases have been
“discarded” as laboratory evidence
was incomplete.
356
Severe acute respiratory syndrome — SARS — was a recent pandemic that
resulted in 774 deaths worldwide. The first case was discovered in rural
China when a farmer died of an unidentified disease in November 2002.
But the Chinese government did not report the incident to the World
Health Organization, the United Nations agency that monitors global
health security.
As a result, news of the disease did not become public until February
2003, when an American man travelling to Singapore from China fell ill.
The plane stopped in Vietnam, where the man died. Several people who
treated him developed the same disease. On March 12, the WHO issued
a global alert, but the disease had already spread. By the time the outbreak
ended in July 2003, SARS cases had been identified in 26 countries,
including Canada.
SARS could have become a deadly pandemic, but it was held in check
by the quick action of the WHO and national health agencies. Quarantines
halted its spread, as people who might have come into contact with an
infected person were isolated in their homes for 10 days. No contact with
others was allowed.
Although SARS was successfully contained, the global response to
AIDS — acquired immune deficiency syndrome — has been less successful.
Every year, about 3 million people, including
Deaths
Fatality Rate
about 500 000 children, die of AIDS.
(Percentage)
Another 4 million people contract the
disease. As of January 2006, an estimated
349
7
39.5 million people were living with AIDS,
299
17
which had killed another 25 million. There
is no cure for AIDS, although expensive
37
11
drug therapies help prolong victims’ lives.
The social stigma associated with AIDS
43
17
has worked to limit effective prevention
33
14
programs. In the beginning, AIDS was
considered a disease of homosexual men.
5
8
Health officials now recognize that anyone
0
0
can contract AIDS, but its association with
sexual activity remains. Many people who
2
14
might be infected do not get tested for fear
0
0
of testing positive. Those who do admit they
are positive are often ostracized.
0
0
Many governments in Africa were very
slow to develop prevention and treatment
programs because they did not want to admit that AIDS was a problem in
their societies. Now, two-thirds of all AIDS cases are found in sub-Saharan
African countries.
List three ways in which globalization has established conditions that
encourage diseases to spread. How are these conditions similar to the ways
globalization encourages the spread of ideas and products?
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
POINTS OF VIEW
POINTS OF VIEW
POINTS OF VIEW
POINTS OF VIEW
POINTS OF VIEW
The United Nations recognizes that AIDS presents a special challenge in Africa. But why is this so? The following
are the responses of three people to some of the difficulties and dilemmas related to AIDS in Africa.
STEPHEN L EWIS is a Canadian AIDS
activist who served as the UN special
envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. The
following is an excerpt from a 2005 speech
in which he compared efforts in Western
countries and Africa to prevent babies
from contracting the disease from their
infected mothers during childbirth.
L OUISE BINDER is a Canadian AIDS
survivor and activist. She made these
comments in a 2006 newspaper interview.
The rates [of HIV/AIDS] are climbing, disproportionately,
among women everywhere. Most of these women live
in Sub-Saharan Africa. These are women in the prime
of their lives. They leave behind orphans — millions
of them, in fact — and deprive communities of food
producers, caregivers, teachers, and of course, mothers,
daughters, and sisters. Many are very young, just girls
really. Their deaths are the loss of an entire generation
in some parts of the world.
For most of these women, the greatest risk of HIV
infection is being married . . . Marriage and women’s
own fidelity are no protection . . . Women have no
power to negotiate safer sex practices with their
partners and married men often have multiple sexual
partners with whom they practise unsafe sex.
Why do we tolerate one regimen for Africa (secondrate) and another for the rich nations (first-rate)? Why
do we tolerate the carnage of African children, and save
the life of every Western child? Is it possible to do full
therapy in Africa rather than single-dose nevirapine [a
drug used to reduce the risk of transmitting AIDS]? Of
course it is…
It leaves the mind reeling to think of the millions of
children who should be alive and aren’t alive, simply
because the world imposes such an obscene division
between rich and poor. That’s about to change, but
why does it always come after an horrific toll is taken?
Radio
Diaries
THEMBI NGUBANE is a young South
African woman who kept an audio
diary for a year after she found
out she had AIDS. In 2006, she
explained to an interviewer why
she kept the diary.
I wanted to reach other young people who are also infected with HIV,
who are hiding, who are afraid to come out and disclose their status. I
thought that I would be affecting someone’s life, helping some person
who maybe has not disclosed his status or some person who has not
been tested.
By the time I got sick, my community members suspected, so every
time I went to the clinic, they all started to stare and started to point
and started to give names. So I just thought to myself, “What the hell,”
because I am hiding and they can see it. I don’t think anyone can hide
the sickness.
Explorations
1. Write a short summary of each speaker’s message.
Share your summary with a partner. Compare your
interpretations. What role does globalization play in
your interpretations? Did your own responses change
as a result of your discussion? Explain why or why not.
Speaker
2. Examine each message and complete a chart like the
one shown. In the final column, note how the situation
in your community is similar to or different from the
situation described by each speaker.
Reason for Speaking Out about
AIDS
Point of View on Why AIDS Is
Under-Treated
Situation in My Community
Stephen Lewis
Louise Binder
Thembi Ngubane
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
357
Responses to Health Crises
FYI
WHO is a United Nations agency that is
governed by the World Health Assembly,
which is made up of representatives of
193 member states. WHO headquarters
are in Geneva, Switzerland.
ECT
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#
B 7E HEALTHmap is a
global disease alert map
that is constantly updated to
show the geographic distribution
of disease outbreaks. To chart and
follow global health information,
go to this web site and
follow the links.
WWW%XPLORING'LOBALIZATIONCA
The World Health Organization is at the centre of the global response
to health crises. This organization systematically gathers reports about
suspected outbreaks of diseases. Formal reports come from ministries of
health in various countries, academic institutions, WHO regional offices,
non-governmental organizations, laboratories, and other agencies. But
to get a complete picture, the WHO also monitors informal sources of
information. Health Canada worked with the WHO to develop the Global
Public Health Intelligence Network. This early-warning tool continuously
scans web sites and newswires to pick up information about disease
outbreaks. In more than 60 per cent of disease crises, the first clues come to
WHO through informal channels.
Centers for Disease Control
Though the WHO co-ordinates disease control measures at the
international level, most of the monitoring, reporting, and responding to
disease outbreaks take place at a national level. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in the United States is one of the best-known
national agencies. Monitoring and responding to pandemics is just a
small part of this agency’s day-to-day activities. It also deals with healthy
living, emergency preparedness, environmental health, violence and safety,
workplace safety, and travellers’ health.
Infectious Disease
Deaths as a Proportion of All
Deaths, 2001
Percentage
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Figure 15-17
Africa
Eastern Mediterranean
Southeast Asia
Western Pacific
Americas
Europe
Figure 15-18 An outbreak of a mysterious disease causing pneumonia occurred in Guangzhou,
China, in 2003. Residents took precautions while the WHO and local authorities tried to figure out
the nature of the illness.
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Analyze the pattern shown in the graph in Figure 15-17.
What inequities do you see? What factors do you
think contribute to these inequities? What aspects
of this pattern may cause concerns for public health
358
officials preparing for and responding to pandemics?
On the basis of this pattern, suggest two measures
you think would help prevent or reduce the impact of
pandemics.
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
HOW HAVE PEOPLE RESPONDED TO GLOBAL
ISSUES?
The worldwide connections that exist through globalization mean that
people today can be informed of harmful or unfair situations in other
places in greater detail and more quickly than ever before. When people are
informed, many are moved to take action. People can respond in a variety
of ways — as individuals, as part of a larger society, as part of a corporation,
and through their government.
Consumers
Consumers can choose where to spend their money — and groups have
formed to inform consumers about abuses and questionable practices by
manufacturers and retailers. Organizations in many Western countries,
including Canada, may encourage consumers to press their local supermarkets
to carry fair trade products. Other consumer action programs have targeted
name-brand clothing companies and retail clothing chains. Activists want
these companies to introduce a code of conduct to ensure that suppliers’
products are not produced in sweatshops. The goal is to provide consumers
with information so they can make informed decisions about where and how
they spend their money. Would you and your family be prepared to pay more
for consumer goods to guarantee equality in the workplace?
One form of consumer action is a boycott, which involves refusing to buy
a company’s products. A boycott is a form of direct action in which activists
try to achieve their goals by targeting corporations, rather than working
through the government. One current high-profile boycott urges consumers
not to buy Nestlé products. This company has been accused of providing free
or low-cost infant formula to new mothers in developing countries so that
the women would choose formula over breastfeeding. Once the mothers were
using the formula, the price increased. The activists charged that some babies
became undernourished because the mothers could no longer afford to buy
formula and watered it down so it would last longer.
Nurturing a Civil Society
In the past, two sectors of society — governments and business — were
thought to exert the most power and influence in making decisions and
setting policy. But in recent years, a third sector has
begun to make its voice heard. This sector is made up of
many groups — community groups, non-governmental
organizations, faith-based groups, universities, and so on —
and has become known as civil society. Civil society
has become more visible and stronger, as the rapid
growth in the number of NGOs demonstrates.
The growing importance of civil society may be a
response to the rising strength of corporations and the
apparent decline in the power of governments. Name
some organizations that you think would be elements of
civil society.
VOICES
Citizens can influence governments,
shape market realities, and help
to determine global labor and
environmental standards. They can
not only shine a global spotlight on
miscreants who seek to circumvent
such standards, but help to adopt
new standards and expectations. That
is the power of globalization.
— J. Michael Adams and Angelo
Carfagna, in Coming of Age in a
Globalized World, 2006
ECT
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#
B 7E To find out more
about the Nestlé boycott
and others, go to this web site
and follow the links.
WWW%XPLORING'LOBALIZATIONCA
Figure 15-19 Protests against Canada’s
seal hunt have tried to convince
consumers that the hunt is brutal. At
this 2005 protest on Parliament Hill, an
Inuk offers an alternative view: that the
hunt is part of the culture and livelihood
of the Inuit. How does this photograph
illustrate that civil society groups do not
always speak with one voice?
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
359
FOCUS ON SKILLS
COLLABORATING
IN GROUPS
FOCUS ON SKILLS
Initiatives such as protecting the environment, stopping potential pandemics, and creating
sustainable societies are complex and challenging. Achieving results often requires people to
work in collaboration with one another.
Collaboration means working co-operatively and productively with other members of a team
to accomplish tasks and achieve goals. Studies have shown that collaboration is an effective
way to handle tough tasks because team members
• encourage and support one another, so they feel positive about their work
• understand the task and their roles because they explain, summarize, and defend their ideas to
others as they work on a task
• learn from the skills and experiences of others in the group
When working collaboratively, group members must take on a variety of roles like those set
out on this page. Some roles may be assigned, but others will be shared or accepted when a
specific job must be done. Group members must be prepared to step up and take on specific
roles as needed.
Suppose you and a group of classmates are asked to work collaboratively to draft a social
responsibility statement for your school. Following these steps can help you achieve this goal.
You can use similar steps whenever you work in collaborative groups.
Steps to Collaborating in Groups
Step 1: Clarify the problem or question
With group members, identify and discuss the
group’s task to make sure everyone understands the
assignment. Each group member should work to clarify
what she or he means and to understand what other
members are saying.
The goal of this initial discussion is to reach
agreement on what the final product or outcome
should be, what it should look like, and how it will
be presented. Write a statement that names the
challenge and spells out these details.
Step 2: Assign roles and define responsibilities
Assign roles to help ensure that the task is
accomplished. You may wish to select roles from those
shown in the box on this page.
Some roles, such as recording or timekeeping, may
be played by the same person for the duration of the
group session. Other roles may be played by different
group members as needed. It may be a good idea, for
example, to rotate the roles of taskmaster and leader.
Depending on the size of the group, some roles may
overlap or be shared, or one group member may play
more than one role. The cheerleader and encourager,
for example, may be the same person.
360
TYPICAL ROLES IN COLLABORATIVE GROUPS
Group leader — Is responsible for organizing the group
and leading discussions (see Building Consensus, p. 246,
and Demonstrating Leadership during Discussions, p. 312).
Recorder — Keeps notes, logs, or journals for the group.
Materials handler — Obtains, distributes, and keeps
materials needed by the group.
Reporter — Tracks group’s progress toward goal and
at appropriate times, presents an oral summary of the
group’s progress or product.
Cheerleader — Keeps group members motivated and
focused on the task.
Encourager — Makes sure all members are working in a
positive, supportive manner.
Taskmaster — Reminds group members when they stray
from the task or are wasting time.
Timekeeper — Reminds the group of time limitations and
when the process must be concluded.
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
FOCUS ON SKILLS
FOCUS ON SKILLS
FOCUS ON SKILLS
FOCUS ON SKILLS
Step 3: Complete the task
Work together to complete the task outlined in Step 1.
The length of time this takes will depend on the task.
It may be necessary to set up a series of meetings or
work sessions. During long tasks, it is important for
cheerleaders and encouragers to keep morale high
and people feeling good about the task and the group.
You might ask one group member to observe the
group at work, noting helpful behaviour and strategies.
To do this, a chart like the following may be helpful.
Our Group at Work
Group Member Assigned Role Positive Behaviour
Aparna
FOCUS ON SKILLS
Cheerleader
Timekeeper
Encouraged others to
give their opinion.
Thanked a group
member for staying
on task.
Step 4: Reflect on what you achieved — and how
At the end of each session and when you complete
the task, take a few minutes to reflect as a group on
how effectively you worked together and achieved
your goals. This is a time for group members to solidify
working relationships. During these sessions, focus
on the positive so that group members feel good about
the roles they played.
FOCUS ON SKILLS
You may also wish to note areas where the group
as a whole could improve its performance. If the group
task involves more than one session, you may wish
to review these notes at the beginning of the next
session.
To help you complete this step, you may wish to
respond to questions like the following:
• What goals did we set for our group today?
• What goal(s) did our group achieve today?
• What information and ideas did each group
member contribute to the discussion? How?
• How effectively did we complete our tasks?
• Did we listen respectfully when others were
talking?
• Did we encourage everyone to participate? How?
• What could we do differently to achieve more?
• What goals might we set for the next session?
In addition, each group member may wish to assess
his or her contribution to the group session by asking
questions like the following:
• How would I describe my contribution to the
discussion?
• How well did I complete my assigned task?
• Did I encourage others to participate fully?
• In what areas could I improve my performance?
• What goals might I set for myself to achieve
during the next session?
Summing up
With the class, share ideas about the strategies that
helped your group achieve its goal. What challenges
did you face? How did you overcome these challenges?
How might you work together more effectively in the
next group session?
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
361
VOICES
The United Nations once dealt only
with governments. By now we know
that peace and prosperity cannot
be achieved without partnerships
involving governments, international
organizations, the business
community, and civil society. In
today’s world, we depend on each
other.
— Kofi Annan, secretary-general of
the United Nations, 2005
How Business,
Government, and Civil Society
Shape Globalization
Figure 15-20
The role of civil society
Civil society plays an important role in shaping globalization and may help
counterbalance the strength of business forces in influencing government
policy making. Those involved in civil society groups have often developed
expertise in specific areas and can offer advice and evidence that help shape
policies. The United Nations, for example, routinely draws on the expertise
of civil society organizations in areas such as health care and population
policies. The Internet is used for online consultation, a strategy that gives
the UN the broadest access to ideas and evidence.
One challenge faced by civil society groups is that they do not always
share the same points of view
and perspectives. Do you
think this lack of agreement
strengthens or weakens
Civil
democracy? Explain why.
Government
Society
List two important ways
Direction of
that civil society may influence
Globalization
the globalization process.
Provide examples to illustrate
your ideas. Share your list with
a partner. Discuss why you
developed different lists. Are
Business
both lists valid?
PROFILE
PROFILE
PROFILEPROFILE
SAMANTHA NUTT
CARING FOR THE CHILDREN OF WAR
PROFILE
Samantha Nutt, a doctor, is the founder and driving force behind War
Child Canada. This international non-governmental organization provides
rehabilitation programs for children affected by war and raises awareness
of children’s rights everywhere in the world. To do this, the group tried to
connect with Canadian young people, informing them of the intolerable
situations for children in developing countries. War Child Canada is linked to
War Child groups in other countries.
Nutt has spent more than 10 years working with children in war zones.
Some of her projects have taken her to Afghanistan, Iraq, the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and other troubled places.
As a specialist in maternal and child health, she sees first-hand how violent
conflicts affect women and children. Malnutrition, infectious diseases, poor
maternal health, and violence against women — these are the issues that
compel her to continue her work.
Recently, advocating for women and children has taken more of her time.
When asked about this shift in direction, she said, “It’s the opportunity to
tell the stories of people who haven’t yet had the chance to be heard . . . the
opportunity to give the issues a voice — whether it’s me, the young people we
work with or the music artists saying it. Eventually someone is going to listen,
and that’s what keeps me coming to work.”
362
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
Figure 15-21 Samantha Nutt has said
that she would like to be remembered
for “having the courage to do things
differently and for being too stubborn
to know when to give up (this has
served me well).”
Corporate Citizenship
Transnational corporations, whose operations span national boundaries,
are in key positions to find solutions to important global challenges. They
often have the expertise and financial resources to make a difference. Many
businesses, for example, have developed corporate citizenship statements
that mention a commitment to promoting sustainable development, human
rights, and community involvement.
These corporations understand that these actions not only help
build public goodwill and investor confidence, but also create a working
environment that is rewarding for employees.
ISO standards
Many corporations are showing their
commitment to corporate citizenship
by voluntarily adopting standards set
by the International Organization for
Standardization, or ISO. This NGO
is a network of national standards
institutes that work to develop
technical standards for industries and
services. These standards are designed
to make the manufacturing and supply
of goods and services more efficient,
safe, and environmentally sustainable. They also protect consumers and
workers. One example is the use of common health and safety symbols
that can be understood in any language. Companies that have met ISO
requirements often promote this in their advertising. Do you think this is
an effective marketing tool?
Government Responses
Governments at various levels are also in influential positions to work
to achieve fairness and equity. In Canada, for example, federal laws
have established the Canadian Human Rights
Commission to administer the Canadian Human
Rights Act and ensure that the Employment
Equity Act is followed in areas under federal
jurisdiction. Federal jurisdiction applies to
businesses such as banking, airlines, and television
stations. Provincial agencies, such as the Alberta
Human Rights and Citizenship Commission,
are responsible for areas, such as education,
employment, and housing, that are under the
control of provincial governments.
Are you aware of examples of government
programs or actions that try to resolve problems of
fairness and equity? If you are, briefly describe one
such action. If not, work with a partner to discover
one.
ECT
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#
B 7E The Dow Jones
world sustainability
indexes use social,
environmental, and economic data
to calculate the environmental and
social responsibility of the world’s
largest 2500 corporations. To find
out more about these indexes and
where corporations rank, go to
this web site and follow
the links.
WWW%XPLORING'LOBALIZATIONCA
Figure 15-22 Sarah Ferguson,
duchess of York, joins an official of the
Ronald McDonald House Charities at
a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Warsaw,
Poland. McDonald’s donated a mobile
care unit to help diagnose cancer
in Polish children. How do actions
like this influence your opinion of
transnationals?
Figure 15-23 Teenagers Amy (left)
and Jesse Pasternak took their
case to the Manitoba Human Rights
Commission when the province’s high
school athletic association barred
them from playing hockey on their high
school’s boys’ team. The commission
ruled that the Pasternaks had suffered
sex discrimination.
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
363
RESEARCH
PARTICIPATE
THINK
THINK
PARTICIPATE
RESEARCH
THINK…PARTICIPATE…RESEARCH…COMMUNICATE…TH
RESEARCH
THINK
PARTICIPATE
COMMUNICATE
COMMUNICATE
1. Create a visual to show how global connections
affect individuals and communities. Your visual could
be a sketch or drawing, a photograph that you have
altered using computer software, a display board, or
even a three-dimensional object, such as a mobile.
Here are some questions to think about as you
plan your visual. Incorporate some of these ideas
into your work.
• What community are you describing?
• Who are the people in the community?
• How might those people be affected by global
connections? What are some positive and
negative effects?
• How might I, as part of this community, be
directly affected?
• What response should I recommend the
community make to the global connections?
2. Predict what you think will happen in the oilproducing Middle East over the next five years.
Review the information on pages 350–351 of this
chapter, then conduct an Internet search to find out
what has happened since 2003. Give reasons for
your predictions (e.g., point to past events that may
influence future conditions).
3. In a small group, participate in a round-table
discussion of this statement: Global connections
make us aware of unfair conditions around the
world. Once we know about these conditions, we are
obliged to help improve them.
Before the discussion begins, develop two or
three criteria to use when formulating a response
to these questions and prepare a brief statement
setting out your point of view. Present your
statement during the group discussion, and be ready
to respond to questions about it and the criteria you
used when developing it.
When the discussion ends, work with the group
to prepare a consensus statement that reflects
the group’s collective perspective on the issue.
Share this with other groups in the class. Formulate
one overarching statement that reflects a class
consensus.
364
COMMUNI
4. As you have progressed through this textbook, you
have read many quotations by a variety of people.
Now, make up some quotations that might have been
included in this chapter.
Your goal is to summarize as concisely as possible
an important idea or relationship on the topic of how
global connections affect people. Complete a chart
like the following by making up, for each person on
the chart, a quotation about one of the five topics
listed for each person on the chart. An example has
been started.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
The growing importance of virtual communities
The presence of Wal-Mart stores in small towns
The importance of immigration to Canada
The success of the United States in building a
stable Iraq
Rapid population growth in Fort McMurray
The success of efforts to achieve sustainable
development in Canada
Solutions to the AIDS crisis in Africa
The role of global connections in developing civil
society
Person
High school student
Orphaned child in Africa
Newspaper columnist in
your community
Premier of Alberta
Consumer activist
President of a
transnational corporation
Person of your choice
To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization? • MHR
Topic
c.
Quotation
Immigration is a —
RESEARCH
PARTICIPATE
THINK
PARTICIPATE
THINK
RESEARCH
HINK…PARTICIPATE…RESEARCH…COMMUNICATE…
THIN
RESEARCH
THINK
PARTICIPATE
COMMUNICATE
ICATE
COMMUNICATE
5. Most people would agree that blood oil presents a
problem for the world community. Oil is a valuable
natural resource that is in great demand. But does
allowing violence and killing to play a role in the
development of this resource send a message that
exploiting natural resources is more important than
people’s lives?
In a small group, work collaboratively to develop
a plan of action that could help the global community
identify “blood” resources and bring this practice to
an end. Follow the steps set out in “Focus on Skills —
Collaborating in Groups” (pp. 360–361).
When your plan is in place, work together to
evaluate how effectively your group functioned.
COMMUNICAT
6. Examine and analyze the cartoon on this page.
• What message is the cartoonist conveying?
• What global connections does this cartoon
suggest?
In light of this cartoon’s message, reflect on some
of the ideas in this chapter. How do you think the
cartoonist might reply to this question: How does
globalization affect individuals and communities?
Figure 15-24
Think about Your Challenge
The first part of your challenge for this issue is to keep a journal or blog to help you develop an informed
position on the related-issue question: To what extent should I, as a citizen, respond to globalization?
Review the predictions you made at the end of Chapter 14. Did your position change as you progressed
through this chapter? If so, note in your journal or blog the evidence that persuaded you to change your
mind. If not, note the evidence that persuaded you to stay on the same track.
MHR • To what extent do global connections affect people?
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